¿What are micro applications?
Micro apps (Micro Applications) are systems aimed at solving specific requirements within an organization. They act in parallel with the management systems and may or may not be connected to them. They are often used to analyze information, to prepare the data before it is recorded in the management systems, or even to correct any lack of functionality.
Does your organization have many Excel spreadsheets scattered among the different sectors? Would you like to get rid of them?
In our experience over the years, we have seen that in all organizations there are «parallel systems» that interact with the management system (ERP) and are generally distributed by sectors: Sales, Purchasing, Administration, Office, Returns, Technical Service, etc.
In most organizations, these «parallel systems» are managed with Excel.-
Why do these forms exist?
To correct a deficiency in the Management systems, which no matter how good and complete they are, do not always manage to fully cover the problems of each organization. That is why, many times from operational levels, they seek to record and process data in spreadsheets that are more user-friendly and easy to use.-
For analysis and summary of data by intermediate managers. It is very common to see managers or those in charge of certain areas of the company, prepare complex worksheets to analyze and summarize data that they extract from management systems and with them generate reports that they then present to directors.-
As a collaborative tool. When a certain process involves more than one sector, it is very common to see shared worksheets that are completed by different actors within a more complex process.
There is a tendency to avoid the use of spreadsheets:
It generates “informal” information that is outside the management systems.
It is insecure since the information they contain is often classified and of great value to the company and is scattered on different computers, many times in shared folders, sent and forwarded by email, and what is worse, hosted on USB devices.
Generally, it does not have security levels at user or group level to prevent modifications, nor does it have audit logs to determine who made a change to the data.
It is common for these worksheets to contain complex formulas that can easily be broken because a user added a column or a row where it should not be.
When these spreadsheets are shared among several users, it creates the difficulty of having to coordinate their use.
Advantages of micro applications:
The Micro App concept is an evolution to Excel spreadsheets. Many times it is impossible to integrate all the information processes in a comprehensive management system, either due to complexity, development time, and mainly due to cost. The Micro App runs in web environments and can be hosted within the organization or outside of it in a Cloud with all security standards. They are multiplatform, that is, they run on any type of device: Windows, Linux, Mac, tablets, etc. and there are no technical requirements that limit its use. Only one device with access to the internet or the local network is enough.
The information is concentrated on a secure server that belongs to the company and is not scattered across different computers or USB devices.
Access is by password with different security levels such as user, group, and role.
All the people involved can access simultaneously from any part and device as long as they have internet access.
Everything is recorded at audit level.
Now is the time to think about your company or institution:
Are there Excel spreadsheets with classified and valuable information for you?
Would you like to eradicate these forms and concentrate the information in one place, safer, reliable, and scalable?
Do you know that you can count on this tool with minimum investment and in record time?